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E-Financial

Global Leaders @ 2nd UBA Africa Day Conversations Urge Government, Private Sector Collaboration

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United Bank for Africa (UBA) celebrated Africa Day 2020, by bringing together global leaders at the 2nd UBA Africa Day Conversations, screened live across the continent.

Global Leaders @ 2nd UBA Africa Day Conversations Urge Government, Private Sector Collaboration

UBA helps set the debate around African economic development through its series of “Africa Conversations”.

This year, the focus was on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Covid-19 pandemic.  Leaders emphasised the need for meaningful collaboration between governments and the private sector, as a requirement for the quick recovery of the economy of the African continent post Covid-19.

The panel included the President of Liberia, H.E George Weah; United States Senator Chris Coons; the President & Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), Professor Benedict Okey Oramah; President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer; and was moderated by the Group Chairman, UBA Plc, Tony O. Elumelu.

Other leading voices contributing were the Founder, Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben Yahmed; the Secretary-General of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), H.E George Chikoti; Administrator, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Achim Steiner and Donald Kaberuka, the former President of the African Union.

Elumelu spoke on the need to mobilise quickly and explained the necessity to identify a more fundamental solution to Africa’s challenges.  “This is the time for us to deal with the situation, this is not the time for finger pointing, but for collaborative efforts by governments and organisations, to fight the pandemic globally.  There is need to flatten the curve, we need global co-operation to stem global depression.  Africa requires a large stimulus package, and we need long-term solutions to prevent a cycle of debt.”

Liberian President, George Weah, demonstrated how collaboration has assisted his country to stem the sufferings brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.  “In Liberia we have taken measures to ease the financial burden on vulnerable business in the informal sector by providing small loan assistance to SMEs and traders.  In addition, we are working with commercial banks to manage the repayment of loans as well as to create stimulus packages for citizens,” President Weah said.

US, Senator Chris Coons made valuable contributions to the discussions, saying “We must develop a vaccine that is free and affordable and freely distributed so that full economic activities can return.  This is no time to be looking backwards.  We recognise the power of collective collaboration on the continent.”

Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah called for the swift implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and disclosed that Afrexim has made available $200million to supply fertilisers and grains amongst across Africa.   The Afrexim boss asserted “If Africa allows hunger takeover the people, it will see an increase in insecurity, which will take a long time to overcome.”

George Chikoti of ACP, said that the huge task of economic recovery on the continent, rests on both the government and the private sector. “African governments need to accept the support of the Private Sector in alleviating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.  We have so far been able to release $25m to all member states”, Chikoti added

Achim Steiner of the UNDP focused on digital connectivity as an enabler of development.  “What we need to look at is to find a way for government as a regulator and also as an investor, to leverage private sector investment into these areas” Steiner said.

Peter Maurer, President, ICRC, said there is the need to look at pandemics as part of a broader health system which needs stabilisation.  “We must do more than life-saving.  This pandemic has illustrated the weakness of health, water, sanitation and social systems, and we have to heavily invest into the stabilisation of these systems,” he said.

Amir Ben Yahmed said the crisis is going to be a super accelerator of already existing trends.  “We have to get away from the commodity driven model which has failed in creating prosperity.  “We need to use this crisis to take Africa to the next level.  We also need to attain self-reliance.  Self-reliance is an important goal,” Yamed said.

The UBA Africa Conversations concluded with the need to act quickly and effectively, highlighting that Africa has lessons to teach the world in containment, but was economically vulnerable.

The United Bank for Africa is a leading pan-African financial institution offering banking services to more than twenty million customers globally. With footprint in 20 African countries and presence globally in the United Kingdom, the USA and France, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.


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E-Financial

Diaspora Remittances to Nigeria Reach $4.22 Billion in 2024, Says CBN

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that diaspora remittances through international money transfer operators (IMTOs) reached $4.22 billion between January and October 2024.

This figure represents a 61 percent increase, or $2.62 billion more than the amount recorded during the same period in 2023.

CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso shared the figures during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions at the National Assembly on Wednesday. “The year-on-year increase reflects significant growth,” Cardoso noted.

He also reported that remittances rose from $336 million in September 2024 to $402 million in October 2024 on a month-to-month basis.

Cardoso expressed optimism about continued growth in remittance inflows, saying, “The remittance inflows would continue to rise by the end of the year, given the current trajectory.”

He attributed the surge to improved efficiency in the remittance system, the positive effects of President Bola Tinubu’s policies, and increased trust among Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to national development.

In addition to remittance updates, Cardoso addressed the state of Nigeria’s external reserves, which he said had grown to $42.01 billion as of December 12, 2024, from $38.35 billion on September 30, 2024.

“External reserves rose largely due to receipts from crude oil-related taxes and third-party receipts in Q3 2024,” he explained.

He added that Nigeria’s external reserves could fund over nine months of goods and services imports, surpassing the international benchmark of three months. “Our external reserves level is a robust buffer against shocks,” Cardoso said.

On the issue of cash shortages, the CBN governor reiterated the enforcement of the new policy imposing a fine of N150 million on any bank branch found distributing new naira notes illegally to currency hawkers.

Cardoso also shared his outlook for the Nigerian economy in 2025. “Distinguished Senators, as we conclude this briefing, I want to highlight that despite the challenges facing our economy, there are clear reasons for optimism,” he said.

“The gradual stabilisation of the forex market, ongoing banking sector recapitalization, and positive growth trends in key sectors, especially the services sector, indicate a path toward recovery and stability.”

This comes as the CBN continues to implement measures to strengthen the economy. On October 17, the apex bank reported that remittance inflows had risen to almost $600 million by the end of September, while on June 25, it granted eligible IMTOs access to trade on the official FX window.

 


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E-Financial

Fraud in Bank Branches Surges by 31 Percent in Q2 — FITC

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The Nigerian banking sector has witnessed a concerning rise in fraudulent activities, with incidents of fraud in bank branches increasing by 31 percent in the second quarter of 2024.

Fraud in Bank Branches Surges by 31 Percent in Q2 — FITC

This alarming statistic was disclosed by the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) in its Fraud and Forgeries report, highlighting significant challenges to the integrity of the country’s financial system.

Fraudulent activities in Nigerian banks led to a staggering N42.33 billion in reported losses during the first half of 2024.

This sharp rise was driven by escalating fraud across multiple channels, most notably within physical bank branches.

The FITC report revealed that fraud in bank branches rose dramatically to N42.2 billion in the second quarter, compared to N133.9 million in the first quarter.

The FITC data also pointed to a massive 1,560.3 percent increase in computer and web fraud. Losses in this category surged from N24 million in the first quarter to N400.8 million in the second quarter.

In contrast, mobile fraud witnessed a significant decline, dropping by 59 percent from N216.4 million in the first quarter to N88.7 million in the second quarter.

Interestingly, no cases of ATM-related fraud were recorded during the period under review.

The figures also indicate a shift in fraudulent activities involving various financial instruments. Card fraud saw a notable decline of 47.66 percent, with cases dropping from 21,469 in the first quarter to 11,231 in the second quarter. Conversely, cheque-related fraud rose by 36.67 percent, increasing from 30 cases in the first quarter to 41 in the second quarter.

Mobile fraud recorded an even steeper decline in value terms, dropping by 99 percent from N21.6 billion in the first quarter to N216.36 million in the second quarter.

These figures suggest evolving strategies among fraudsters, with some methods becoming less prevalent while others gain traction.

Amid the rising tide of fraud, legal actions have also intensified. In one notable case, an Abuja Federal High Court issued a 30-day freeze on 818 bank accounts linked to a N10 billion cyberattack on a Nigerian bank.

The court’s directive, issued on October 15, 2024, was based on a motion filed by the police against James Akagwu Isaac and other suspects, including several financial institutions.

Analysts say the surge in fraudulent activities underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance, enhanced security measures, and robust regulatory interventions in Nigeria’s banking sector.

While the decline in some fraud categories, such as mobile and card fraud, offers a glimmer of hope, the sharp rise in branch-based and web-related fraud highlights the evolving tactics of fraudsters.

To combat these threats effectively, experts recommend that banks must invest in advanced fraud detection systems, conduct regular staff training, and strengthen internal controls.

Collaboration between financial institutions, law enforcement agencies, and regulators will also be crucial in mitigating the impact of fraud and safeguarding the financial ecosystem.

The FITC report serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the banking sector and the need for proactive measures to address them. Without sustained efforts, the rising trend of fraud could pose significant risks to Nigeria’s economic stability and the trust of consumers in the financial system.

 

 

Credit: Tribune


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UBA to Deepen International Expansion, Others with N239bn Rights Issue

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United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc said it will utilise the net proceeds of its ongoing N239.4 billion rights issue to invest in additional digital technologies and business expansions that will strengthen the bank’s seven and half decades of impressive performance.

UBA to Deepen International Expansion, Others with N239bn Rights Issue

Tony Elumelu, group chairman, UBA,

UBA is offering 6.84 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each to existing shareholders at N35 per share. The rights issue is pre-allotted on the basis of one new ordinary share of 50 kobo each to every five ordinary shares held as at November 05, 2024.

The rights issue is scheduled to close on December 24, 2024.

Tony Elumelu, group chairman, UBA, said the primary objective of the ongoing rights issue is to strengthen the bank’s position as a pan-African banking industry leader and a highly rewarding institution for all stakeholders.

He said the group decided on the rights issue to ensure that shareholders continue to derive undiluted benefits from a stronger, more innovative and resilient pan-African banking group.

Elumelu said the rights issue would enable the bank to drive organic expansion and business growth within and outside Nigeria, while strengthening its international operations, adding that UBA recently signed an agreement to commence full banking operations in France.

According to him, with presence in key global financial hubs including the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), France and United Arab Emirates (UAE), the bank would deepen its global operations by investing more in these global markets and further extend its global reach.

He noted that, “With African subsidiaries contributing more than 50 per cent of the group’s overall performance, the bank would also make additional investments in existing African operations while exploring new opportunities. UBA currently has operations in 19 African countries outside of Nigeria.”

He pointed out that the bank’s expansion plan is driven by its philosophy of developing African businesses, noting that UBA is not only expanding its geographical reach, but also playing a strategic and pivotal role in the economic transformation of Africa as a continent.

He added that while the rights issue would enable the bank to meet the new capital requirements stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the net proceeds would put the bank in a better stead to expand lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

He outlined that the bank would make substantial additional investments in technologies to consolidate its reputation as a cutting-edge financial services group and deliver a more robust customer experience.

To him, new investments in information and communication technology (ICT) would further strengthen the group’s digitisation and operational efficiency, thus fostering improving coordination and synchronisation amongst the various entities and delivering improved service delivery and customer satisfaction.

UBA said it plans to strengthen collaboration and partnership with TELCOs and FinTechs to drive technology-enabled initiatives across Africa that will improve intra-trade, remittances, and payments across Africa.

The bank added that it plans to broaden its payment capabilities to enable it to transform the way merchants collect payments by offering solutions that offer seamless, secure and user-friendly ways of managing and consummating transactions.

Elumelu reiterated the bank’s long-term strategy of becoming the undisputed leading and dominant financial services institution in Africa, with greater emphasis on Nigeria.

 

 


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